Unloader for storage bins

ABSTRACT

The unloader uses a combination of a plurality of auger and casing units arranged end-to-end and seperably coupled together in a circular bin which has a floor provided with a center outlet sump leading to any means to carry loose granular material from the sump. A power unit connected to the first auger, is mounted in the sump so that it can be rotated on a vertical axis that is on the central axis of the bin. The power unit also includes a hydraulic pump. The casings have openings in one side with manually removable doors for them so that grain may be received by or blocked out of the augers. The first casing carries a tank for hydraulic fluid near the pump. Near the end of the casing remote from the sump, a drive and support unit carries the casing and is hydraulically driven. The second auger and casing unit is seperably coupled to the first auger and casing unit and extends axially beyond it. It also has near its outer end a drive support unit essentially like the one on the first auger. The hydraulic drive coupling to the pump is such that when the first auger and casing unit is separated from the second auger and casing unit, this will limit the supply of fluid to the hydraulic motor of the first drive and support unit so it can be used to cause the first casing unit to travel around the sump and remove the material from the center of the bin while the second unit remains buried in the pile of material in the outer portion of the bin. Unloading a bin by this method keeps the outward pressure on the entire circumference of the bin wall until center annular areas of the bin floor have been cleared and the outward pressure is lowered to a safe level.

United States Patent Jackson Mar. 7, 1972 [54] UNLOADER FOR STORAGE BINSWilliam J. Jackson, P.O. Box 266, Mendota, Ill. 61342 22 Filed: o.1,1970

211 App1.No.: 77,263

[72] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Anomey-Wells, St. John & Roberts [57]ABSTRACT The unloader uses a combination of a plurality of auger andeasing units arranged end-to-end and seperably coupled together in acircular bin which has a floor provided with a center outlet sumpleading to any means to carry loose granular material from the sump. Apower unit connected to the first auger, is mounted in the sump so thatit can be rotated on a vertical axis that is on the central axis of thebin. The power unit also includes a hydraulic pump. The casings haveopenings in one side with manually removable doors for them so thatgrain may be received by or blocked out of the angers. The first casingcarries a tank for hydraulic fluid near the pump. Near the end of thecasing remote from the sump, a drive and support unit carries the casingand is hydraulically driven. The second auger and easing unit isseperably coupled to the first auger and easing unit and extends axiallybeyond it. It also has near its outer end a drive support unitessentially like the one on the first auger. The hydraulic drivecoupling to the pump is such that when the first auger and easing unitis separated from the second auger and easing unit, this will limit thesupply of fluid to the hydraulic motor of the first drive and supportunit so it can be used to cause the first casing unit to travel aroundthe sump and remove the material from the center of the bin while thesecond unit remains buried in the pile of material in the outer portionof the bin. Unloading a bin by this method keeps the outward pressure onthe entire circumference of the binwall until center annular areas ofthe bin floor have been cleared and the outward pressure is lowered to asafe level.

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UNLOADER FOR STORAGE BINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent yearsthe grain trade has demanded larger grain storage units mainlyvertical-type structures. Circular bins of over 100 feet diameter and asmuch as 40 feet high vertical walls have been built. Such a structurepresents unusual problems in unloading. Side unloading puts such unevenstrains on the walls as to be impractical so unloading through a centraldownwardly directed discharge outlet is necessary. Initial unloading isdesirably accomplished in such a way as to avoid excess strain.

In a search through the prior patents, it was found that Laidig, U.S.Pat. No. 3,356,235, broadly discloses a silo bin with a centraldischarge well and a two section auger means rotatable about the axis ofthe bin to bring the bin contents to the central outlet. Other priorpatents of general interest are the following U.S. Pat. Nos.

Laidig Re. 25,863 Hein 2,914,198 Robinson l,482,$24 Schaefer 3,084,814Martin 2,55 l ,2 I 7 Glenn 3,233,755 Greaves 2,763,362 Stone 3,35 l ,395

The Laidig U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,235 apparently is closer to the presentinvention than the other patents.

PURPOSE OF THIS INVENTION The purpose of the present invention is toprovidean apparatus for unloading loose granular material from a largecircular bin through a central outlet in the bin which apparatus uses aplurality of separable auger units arranged end toend radially outwardfrom the bin center axis with power means at the bin center to drive theaugers, and individual drives on each auger unit for advancing themaround the bin, the whole apparatus being capable of being submerged inthe lose granular material and left there from the time of fillingthe-bin-until the bin contents are to be removed.

It is a more specific purpose of this invention to provide the apparatuswith access front doors to the augers individually removable as theauger removes the material over the auger closest to the bin center thuspreventing initial overloading of the auger.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide an unloadingapparatus having end-to-end separable auger units each with its ownadvancing mechanism operable upon any part of the bin floor that isreasonably smooth from the outer wall of the bin to the central outlet.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A preferred form of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the apparatus showing a portion of thebin floor, a portion of the upright wall of the bin, and the centraloutlet through which the bin contents are removed downwardly;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of that portion of the apparatus which includesthe power unit for operating the auger and the pump and part of thefirst auger unit;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the outer end of the second auger unitand showing the drive mechanism by which it is caused to move around thebin;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portionof the second auger unit and its drivemechanism;

FIG. 6 is an end view, with the cover removed, of the power unit;

FIG. 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the drive mechanism forthe first auger unit;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the first auger unittaken along line 9-9 of FIG. I0;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a part of the firstauger unit with a part ofthe auger casing broken away;

- FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the line 11-11 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plane view of the auger unit showing theseparable connection of the inner half of the unit with the outer halfthereof;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is asectional view on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 inparticular, the apparatus is shown in connection with a grain storagebin 1 having a circular sidewall 2 and a floor 3. The floor 3 needs tobe smooth and devoid of projections so that the grain stored in the bincan be cleaned out most easily. At the center of the floor 3 there is anoutlet sump 4 extending downward through which the grain is removed. Anyconventional conveyor can be used to carry away the grain moving downthrough the outlet sump 4.. 7

Within the outlet sump 4, a framework 5 is provided to support a bearingassembly 6 for the pivot pin 7. This pivot pin 7 mountsa housing andsupport 8 for the delivery end of an auger unit 9 so that they mayrotate about the center of the bin The housing 8 supports a drive motor11. A pulley 12 (FIG. 6) on the motor shaft 13 drives a belt 14 to apulley 15 on the shaft of a reducing gear assembly 16 in the housing 8which drives a shaft 17 for an auger 18 in the auger unit 9. Anotherpulley 19 on the motorshaft l3 drives a belt 20 that drives a pulley 21which is fixed on a pump shaft 22. The shaft 22 drives a pump 23 toprovide hydraulic fluid under pressure from a tank 24 for use in causingthe auger unit 9 to travel around the bin. A cover 8a encloses the beltsand pulleys.

The mechanism for causing the auger unit 9 to travel around the binis'best shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. This means embodies a framework 26that carries the outer end 25 of the casing 9a of the auger .unit 9. Atone end the-framework 26 is supported by a rubber tired drive wheel 27.At the other end theframework 26 is supported for limited verticaladjustment by a thin, material dividing wheel 28. The drive wheel isoperated by a chain drive utilizinga sprocket wheel 29 on a wheel axle30 that is journaled in bearings 31 and 32. The bearings carry the rearend of the framework 26. The sprocket wheel 29 is driven by a rollerchain 33, which in turn, is driven by a sprocket wheel 34 on the outputshaft 35 of a reduction gear unit 36. The input shaft 37 of the gearunit 36 is coupled by a clutch 38 to a hydraulic motor 40 carried by abracket 39 on the framework 26. The material dividing wheel 28 ismounted to the framework 26 by an axle 41 which is journaled in bearings42 and ,53 in a pair of arms 44 and 45 that are pivoted by a shaft 46 inthe framework 26. These arms can be adjusted up and down about the shaft46 by a screw 47 threaded into a block 48 in the adjacent end of theframework 26 and bearing ona crossbar 49 connecting arms 44 and 45. Thescrew 47' has a handle 50. The sprockets and chain are covered by ahousing 51. A V-shaped blade 26a is suspended from the frame 26 in frontof the wheel 27 to clear the wheel path. I

Hydraulic fluid is directed to the hydraulic motor 40 from the pump 23via a pipe 52 mounted on the casing 9a of the unit- 9. Fluid is returnedfrom the hydraulic motor 40 to the tank'24 via a' pipe '53also mountedon the casing 9a. The pump 23 receives fluid from the tank 24 through apipe 54. Valved branch pipes 52b and 53b lead to the motor 40 from thepipes 52 and'53.

To control the fluid supply to the motor40 an overflow valve 55 isprovided in a bypass pipe 56 that leads from the pipe 52 toan inlet 57to the tank'24. 'l"he return pipe 53 has speed control valve 58 therein,which, by regulating the amount of fluid returned from the motor 40 tothe tank inlet, controls the speed of the motor40.

The casing 911 is made up of a plurality of flanged sections,the'flanges of which are identified as-9f. An end cap60 closes the endof the auger casing at the end next to the wall 2 of the bin. Near thewall 2 there is a second drive mechanism similar in all respects to thedrive mechanism already described. It has a framework 62 which iscarried by a drive wheel 63 and a material dividing wheel 64. A secondhydraulic motor 65 supplies power to drive the wheel 63. The wheel 64can be moved up and down relative to the framework 62 by means of ahandoperated screw 66. The connecting means between the motor 65 and thedrive wheel 63 are identical to those employed in connecting thehydraulic motor 50 to the drive wheel 27. The pipes 52 and 53 haveconnections to like pipes 52a and 53a that extend on to the motor 65 sothat both motors 50 and 65 can receive fluid from pipe 52 and return theused fluid through the pipe 53. As will be described later herein, thesections of the auger unit 9 outward from the section having the drivemechanism frame 26 thereon can be disconnected from the sections inwardof this frame. The pipes 52 and 53 have known quick disconnect valvedcouplings 67 and 68 to the pipes 52a and 53a which seal themselves whenseparated therein at the point of disconnection of the outer casingsections 90 of the auger unit 9 from the inner sections 9a (see FIG.12). Valves 67a and 68a, 67b and 68b are indicated in F 1G. 12 asproviding this capability.

The auger 18 of the unit 9 extends out to the disconnect point referredto above. It is made up of sections each of which has a hollow shaft 17supported at both ends by hanger bearings 70 that are suspended bybrackets 71 (see FIG. 11). The brackets 71 are carried by hollow stems72 that are threaded to receive the brackets 71. The stems 72 aremounted to the casing 90 by an inner plate 73 to which the stem 72 iswelded and an outer plate 74. These plates are bolted together as shown.A lubricating fixture 75 extends through the plates 73 and 74 and intothe hollow stem 72 to supply lubricant to the bearing 70.

Another auger 76 is provided in sections of the casing 90 outward fromthe section joint just outward of the first drive mechanism. This auger76 is supported by hanger bearings 78 which are like the bearings 70.Means are provided to connect the shaft 77 of the auger 76 to the shaft17 of the auger 18. Both shafts 17 and 77 are tubular. Coupling heads 78and 79 are used to connect the two shafts 17 and 77. These heads areprovided with apertures to receive connecting bolts 80. By removingthese connecting bolts 80 the two shafts can be freed of each other.

The sections 9a of the casing that meet at the junction of the shafts 17and 77 are provided with stiffening braces 81 and 82 to strengthen thispoint in the casing 9a in a horizontal direction. The braces 81 and 82are separably connected by bolts 83 so that they may be disconnected forthe purpose of causing the inner part of the auger unit to empty thecentral part of the bin while the outer part of the auger unit remainscovered with the granular material. When the outer part of the augerunit is then connected up to be driven it is evident that the forwardthrust on the unit against the loose material would be at the couplingpoint where the braces 81 and 82 are provided. Additional braces such asthese may, of course, be provided at any of the coupling points in theauger unit 9 where the casing 9a is shown with flanges 9f. The auger 18and the auger 76 are preferably made in sections terminating at theflanges 9f and the hanger bearings 70 with brackets 71, stems 72 andplates 73-74 shown in FIG. 11 are provided to support the augers wherethe sections meet. Thus, each of the auger casings 9a and each of theaugers l8 and 76 can be made up of sections of the desired length to fitthe dimensions of the bins in which they are to be used. Wherever twosections of augers meet, except at the junction where the separablecoupling heads 78 and 79 are used, a single length of shaft 84 is usedto connect the two adjacent ends of the hollow auger shafts such as 17and 77. This single length of shaft is pinned in the two adjacent augershafts in the same manner that the shafts of the coupler heads 78 and 79are pinned. The pinning is illustrated in H6. 14.

The several casing sections 9a are provided with side doors on theiradvancing faces through which the bin contents may enter to the augers.Elongated apertures 85 are cut in the casing section 9a and the piece 86cut out of the aperture is used as a closure when the side door is to beblocked. Each piece 86 is provided with two lower stop members 87 and 88which are positioned to engage the outer surface of the section 9a justbelow the aperture 85. Each piece 86 has a pair of top hooks 89 and 90,which engage over an upstanding rib 91 that extends the entire length ofeach casing section 9a. A handle 92 is provided on each piece 86.

In the operation of my invention the entire unloader is set up completein the bin 1 before the filling begins. It is made strong enough towithstand being covered by the granular material as the bin is filled.The side door pieces are put in place so that the whole unloader isburied as the bin is filled. When the bin is to be emptied the grain inthe outlet sump 4 is moved out until the drive motor 11, the pumpequipment, and their controls are exposed. The motor is then started soas to operate the auger 18. The side door 86 closest to the sump 4 isopened first and when the grain adjacent to it is removed by the auger18 the next door 86 is removed and then the next door until all of thedoors 86 out to the end of the auger 18 have been removed. The overflowvalve 55 is then closed and the speed control valve 58 is adjusted tocause the hydraulic motor 40 to turn the drive wheel 27 at the properspeed for. keeping the auger 18 adequately filled with grain as theauger 18 makes a complete revolution about the pivot pin 7.

The foregoing operation removes the central portion of the grain in thebin 1. This relieves the outward pressure on the bin to such an extentthat it is now possible to unload the balance of the bin by connectingthe auger 76 and the outer sections of the casing 9a to the auger l8 andthe inner sections of the casing 90. Before the bin 1 was filled theauger 76 was disconnected from the auger 18 and the casing 9a and braces81 and 82 were unbolted at the junction of the augers to allow travel ofthe entire inner unit, consisting of the auger 18, the casing sections9a around it and the drive unit consisting of framework 26, hydraulicmotor 40 and wheels 27 and 28. The pipes 52 and 53 were also uncoupledat 67 and 68.

When coupling is made after using the inner auger 18 to unload thecentral portion of the bin 1 the side doors 86 of the sections of theinner casing 90 are replaced and with the overflow valve 55 open theaugers l8 and 76 are rotated to remove the overburden from the outersections of the casing 911. The side doors 86 are removed as theoverburden is removed until the outer sections and the outer wheeledsupport are uncovered. The pipes 52 and 53 are then connected and openedto the pipes 52a and 53a. Upon closing the overflow valve 55 fluid willbe fed to the outer hydraulic motor 65 to drive the wheel 63 and advancethe outer end of the casing 90. The valves 52b and 53b are adjusted tocontrol the flow to the motors 40 and 65 so that both drive wheels canbe used to advance the outer casing sections as the grain is removed bythe augers 76 and 18. The advance of the entire casing 90 is continueduntil all of the grain is removed from the bin 1.

It is believed that the nature and advantages of my invention will beclear from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A device for bringing granular material from a circular pile in a binto a center outlet sump in the floor of the bin beneath the pile forremoval comprising in combination:

a power unit including a drive motor;

a pivotal support for the power unit mounted in the sump;

auger casing units radially arranged to extend across the pile from saidpower unit and separably connected to each other;

augers in said casing units separably connected end to end;

means connecting the auger closest to the sump to the drive motor forrotating the augers;

a first drive and support unit affixed to the inner casing unit near itsouter end;

a second drive and support unit affixed to the outward casing unit nearits outer end;

each drive and support unit embodying a rear drive wheel operable topush the casing unit and a front support wheel capable of penetratingthe granular material to the bin floor;

said casing units having removable front doors on the front sidesthereof for entry of granular material to the augers therein; and

individually connectable power supply means for the power means on saiddrive and support units.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said power means comprisesindividual hydraulic motors on said drive and support units, and saidpower supply means comprises pipes secured on the casing units withindividual connections to the hydraulic motors.

3. The device defined in claim 1 together with a pump on the pivotalsupport and a fluid tank on the casing:

said power means comprising fluid motors on the drive and support unitsconnected to the drive wheels thereof to drive the wheels; and

fluid conduits between the pump and tank and the fluid motors forsupplying the fluid motors with fluid under pressure from the pump.

4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the from support wheels arevertically movable with respect to the casing to vary the load on thedrive wheels.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the casing units are made up ofa plurality of sections bolted together end to end and the augerstherein are in sections supported by bearings suspended from the ends ofsaid sections.

6. The device defined in claim 1 wherein spaced bearings for supportingthe augers in the casings are suspended from the top of the casingunits.

. 7. The device defined in claim 1 wherein each auger is made up of aplurality of sections with tubular axles:

the tubular axles are joined to each other by short shaft sections; and

bearings on said shaft sections are suspended from the auger casing.

n: in a: I: e

1. A device for bringing granular material from a circular pile in a binto a center outlet sump in the floor of the bin beneath the pile forremoval comprising in combination: a power unit including a drive motor;a pivotal support for the power unit mounted in the sump; auger casingunits radially arranged to extend across the pile from said power unitand separably connected to each other; augers in said casing unitsseparably connected end to end; means connecting the auger closest tothe sump to the drive motor for rotating the augers; a first drive andsupport unit affixed to the inner casing unit near its outer end; asecond drive and support unit affixed to the outward casing unit nearits outer end; each drive and support unit embodying a rear drive wheeloperable to push the casing unit and a front support wheel capable ofpenetrating the granular material to the bin floor; power means on eachdrive and support unit connected to the drive wheel thereof for rotatingit; said casing units having removable front doors on the front sidesthereof for entry of granular material to the augers therein; andindividually connectable power supply means for the power means on saiddrive and support units.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein saidpower means comprises individual hydraulic motors on said drive andsupport units, and said power supply means comprises pipes secured onthe casing units with individual connections to the hydraulic motors. 3.The device defined in claim 1 together with a pump on the pivotalsupport and a fluid tank on the casing: said power means comprisingfluid motors on the drive and support units connected to the drivewheels thereof to drive the wheels; and fluid conduits between the pumpand tank and the fluid motors for supplying the fluid motors with fluidunder pressure from the pump.
 4. The device defined in claim 1 whereinthe front support wheels are vertically movable with respEct to thecasing to vary the load on the drive wheels.
 5. The device defined inclaim 1 wherein the casing units are made up of a plurality of sectionsbolted together end to end and the augers therein are in sectionssupported by bearings suspended from the ends of said sections.
 6. Thedevice defined in claim 1 wherein spaced bearings for supporting theaugers in the casings are suspended from the top of the casing units. 7.The device defined in claim 1 wherein each auger is made up of aplurality of sections with tubular axles: the tubular axles are joinedto each other by short shaft sections; and bearings on said shaftsections are suspended from the auger casing.